Rotating disk game



March 27, 1951 GUTHMANN 2,546,441

ROTATING DISK GAME Filed April 4, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 27, 1951 Filed April 4, 1947 E. Y. GUTHMANN ROTATING DISK GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT orrlce 7 ROTATING DISK GAME Eugene Y. Guthmann, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application April 4, 1947, Serial No. 739,269 s Claims. (01. 27s 142) This invention relates to game apparatus and more specifically to a chance control selective mechanism usable, either independently, or in conjunction with other apparatus in the playing of chance games.

An important object of the invention is a provision of an apparatus of this character which is in the form of a compact unit which may be readily manufactured, the elements of which are at all times maintained in assembled relation, and which may, in a single apparatus, incorporate a plurality of chance selection devices.

More specifically my invention relates to a chance controlled apparatus manipulated by the hand and having an impelling device or devices activated by hand, manipulating and impelling a chance controlled element or elements in which the utilization of ratchet mechanisms, operating springs or other fragile elements, is entirely avoided. 1

These and other objects I obtain by the con-' I struction shown in the accompanying drawing wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown several embodiments of my invention and wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a chance controlled Figures 1, 3 and 4;

I Figure 6 is a combined perspective view showing the opposite faces of the other chance wheels of the structure shown in these figures;

Figure '7 is a combined perspective view showing the elements of the pivot for the chance Wheels;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the obverse face of an apparatus having a slightly modified structure; Figure 9 is a section on line 9-3 of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a section on line Ill-l9 of Figure 8; Figure 11 is a plan view of the reverse of the structure shown in Figures 8 to 10; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the lower selector elements employed in Figures 8 to 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral i9 designates a casing element in the form of an annular wall, the upper surface of which supports a transparent closure panel ll and the lower wall of which has an inwardlyextending flange i2 mounting or integral with a second transparent closure panel I 3. Mounted between the panels I I and I3 is a pivot element 14, comprising a stud l5, having a button 16 socketed into the panel l3 as at IT, or otherwise secured thereto, this stud being mounted at its upper end in a socket formed in a button l8.

Mounted upon the stud l5, between the buttons [6 and I8, are/rotatable members. Where, as in the present illustration, more than one rotatable the ordinary chance die. The other of the rotatable elements indicated at 20 is provided with a window 23 through which aligned indicia of element 2| may be observed.

The peripheries of the rotatable elements'20 and 2 l are provided with circumferentially spaced impelling projections 24 and 25, the projections 24 of the rotatable element 20 being differently spaced from the projections 25 of element 2|. The pivot element l4, wherein before referred to, is eccentrically related to the internal wall 26 of easing l0 and arranged between the peripheries of the rotatable elements and this wall are one or more impelling elements 21, comprising spheres 'of a diameter such that during their passage about the path 28 between the peripheries of the rotatable elements and the wall 26, they will engage the projections 24 and 25 of both elements. The eccentricity of the pivot l4, with relation towall 26 is such, as indicated by construction line 29, that during a portion of its travel about path 28 each impelling element 21 will contact with, or be positioned to positively contact with impelling projections 24 and 25 for only a portion of the travel so that it will intermittently impart rotation to these discs and separate therefrom to permit independent rotation of the discs. Due to the fact that the impelling projections 24 and 25 are differently circumferentially spaced, the rotatable elements 20 and 2| may, of course, partake of at least a limited relative rotation at any time with the result that the motion of the rotatable elements with relation to one another and with relation to the casing is decidedly erratic.

Upon engagement it will be obvious that when the unit is given a gyratory motion as suggested in Figure 2 of the drawings, the impelling element or elements 21 will tend to rotate about the inner wall 26. In contact therewith they will thus, through the normal eccentricity of the track, alternately come into and recede from engagement with the impelling projections 2 4 and 2 5, thus causing rotation thereof, and, since the projections 24 and 25 are differently spaced, differential rotation of members 20 and 2|. This action may be considerably increased by providing that portion of the outer wall 26 forming the wider portion of the track 28 with an inward projection .30.. When an impelling element during its normally free travel engages the projection 30, it is thrown violently inwardly to engage the elements 2!! and 2|, and their projections thus causing a further impelling action. It is to be noted that the projection 30 or its equivalent could be used to 'adyantage also in embodiments where the rotatable elements are mounted concentrically with "the wall 26 .to deflect the impelling elements inwaltdly into operative engagement with the rotatable elements.

As above described, the rotatable elements have poaction only with one another. Obviously these rotatable elements may not only have coaction with one another, but with the casing as shown. The element 2| has upon its outer face an arrow .31 coacti-ng with indicia .32 upon the sur- "face of flange [2 of annular wall which supports panel l3.

The structure above described is obviously capable of considerable modification as suggested in Figures 8 to 12 of the drawings. In these figures the casing comprises an outer wall 34 and end wall .35 which are integral and formed of transparent material preferably a plastic. The

opposite end wall 36 is of any suitable opaque material and is provided with a transparent win- .dow or windows 3.! permitting chance selected observation of indicia 38 on the adjacent face of rotatable element 39. Windows 31 may conveniently comprise molded or pressed plastic units press fitted or otherwise secured in opening 40 'in .end wall 36.

As at present shown element 39 has indicia on wboth faces thereof those upon the lower face being chance selected by alinement with a window opening 41 in a second rotatable element 42. The figures under discussion further illustrate the fact that the rotatable members are capable of varied formation. In Figures 1 to '7 both rotatable elemen-ts are in the form of disks and both serve to define the inner wall of the path of the impelling element or elements 21. Figures 8 to 12 show that it is only necessary that one of the rotatable elements define the inner wall of the track the element 42 as shown being in the form of an arrow, which may if desired coact with indicia (not shown) on the adjacent wall 35 of the casing.

Since the constructions shown are capable of other modification I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In game apparatus, a casing enclosing a generally cylindrical chamber, a propelling element movable in the chamber in a circular path concentric with the cylindrical axis of said chamber, and a rotatable index element having a radially projecting finger and mounted in the chamber for rotation about an axis ofiset from the said cylincler "axis so that the circular path of said finger will. intersect the circular path of the propelling element at one side of the casing and will lie remote to said path on the opposite side of the casing.

.2. In game apparatusacasing enclosing ageneral-ly cylindrical chamber, a1rotatable index element having a radially projecting finger and mounted in the chamber for rotation about .an axis offset from the axis of the cylinder. defined by the chamber so that the circular path of the said finger will be in proximity to the cylindrical .side wall of the chamber at one side of the latter and will be remote to said wall at the other side of the chamber, and a propelling element in the chamber confined by and movable in a circular path defined by .said wall and intersecting the path first named at the one side only of the casing. r

3. Game apparatus according to claim 2 whereinthe index element is provided with a plurality of the radial projections relatively spaced about the periphery thereof.

4. Game apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the propelling element is in the form :of a sphere.

5. Game apparatus according to claim 2 including a plurality of the propelling elements.

5. Game apparatus according to claim 2 including a plurality of the index elements independently rotatable in difierent substantially parallel planes.

EUGENE Y. GUTHMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 592,263 Thomas Oct. 26, 1897 1,520,697 Carlson Dec. 30, 1924 1,542,874 I-Iampel June 23, 1925 2,246,384 Rice June 17, 1941 

